Incidence, Trends, and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Female Breast Cancer in the United States, 2000-2023: A SEER Based Study.

Abstract

IntroductionIn 2026, an estimated 321,910 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed.However, there is a lack of comprehensive data on breast cancer incidence trends and how they vary across different age groups and racial and ethnic populations. Existing studies have evaluated breast cancer incidence trends over short periods, resulting in a lack of clear information on specific population variations over extended periods to ascertain disease-specific trends.MethodsWe used the 2000-2023 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program dataset to analyze routine data and published cancer cases to identify incidence trends and disease burden by age and race/ethnicity using Joinpoint regression. We included new cases of breast cancer identified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Patient's demographic information was obtained from the medical records.ResultsThe overall breast cancer incidence among women was 190.8 per 100,000, showing an increasing trend from 2000 to 2023. There was also a significant increase in age-adjusted incidence rates in breast cancer trends from 2000 to 2023 (AAPC = 0.76%), with the highest incidence being reported in women aged 75-⁠79 years (456.3 per 100,000). Non-Hispanic white women recorded the highest incidence over the period (228.9 per 100,000). Non-Hispanic White women experienced increasing incidence trends between 2000 and 2023 (AAPC = 0.76%).ConclusionFrom 2000 to 2023, there was a significant increase in breast cancer incidence trends in all groups, with notable rates among women in their 40s and above. These trends underscore the need for adaptive screening strategies and policy recommendations to initiate mammography at age 40. Progress could also be accelerated by understanding the associations among ethnic, racial, and other existing social disparities to ensure early diagnosis and treatment.